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Property Crime Trends in Freeport, Illinois: A Decade of Significant Reduction
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Freeport, located in Illinois, has experienced significant changes in its property crime landscape over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased dramatically from 880 to 306, representing a 65.2% reduction. This substantial decline occurred against a backdrop of population decrease, with the city's population falling from 27,191 in 2010 to 25,328 in 2022, a 6.8% reduction.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a notable downward trend. In 2010, there were 238 burglaries reported, which decreased to 86 in 2022, marking a 63.9% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 8.75 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 3.40 per 1,000 in 2022. Interestingly, despite this decrease in absolute numbers, the city's share of state burglaries increased from 0.44% in 2010 to 0.51% in 2022, suggesting that burglary rates may have declined more slowly in Freeport compared to the rest of Illinois.
Larceny theft, the most common property crime in the city, also experienced a significant decline. In 2010, there were 633 reported cases, which dropped to 194 in 2022, a 69.4% decrease. The rate per 1,000 residents fell from 23.28 in 2010 to 7.66 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny theft figures decreased from 0.38% in 2010 to 0.19% in 2022, indicating that the city's improvement in this area outpaced the state average.
Motor vehicle theft trends present a more complex picture. While the number of incidents increased from 9 in 2010 to 26 in 2022, representing a 188.9% increase, the rate per 1,000 residents rose from 0.33 to 1.03. Despite this increase, the city's share of state motor vehicle thefts grew from 0.04% to 0.09%, suggesting that this trend might be part of a broader statewide increase in this type of crime.
Arson cases in the city fluctuated over the years but showed an overall decrease. From 6 cases in 2010 to 2 in 2022, there was a 66.7% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents decreased from 0.22 to 0.08. The city's contribution to state arson figures decreased from 0.58% to 0.30%, indicating that the reduction in arson cases in Freeport outpaced the state average.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. The decline in property crimes coincided with a slight decrease in population density, from 2,291 people per square mile in 2010 to 2,134 in 2022. Additionally, there appears to be a correlation between the increase in median income (from $41,128 in 2013 to $43,789 in 2022) and the decrease in property crimes, suggesting that improved economic conditions may have contributed to reduced crime rates.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests a continuation of the overall downward trend, albeit at a slower rate. Burglaries are projected to decrease by approximately 20%, larceny theft by 15%, while motor vehicle theft may stabilize or show a slight increase of 5-10%. Arson cases are expected to remain low but relatively stable.
In summary, Freeport has made significant strides in reducing property crime over the past decade, with substantial decreases in burglary and larceny theft. While motor vehicle theft has seen an increase, it remains relatively low compared to other property crimes. The city's efforts in crime reduction, coupled with demographic and economic changes, have contributed to a safer environment for its residents. As Freeport continues to address these challenges, maintaining focus on economic development and community engagement will be crucial in sustaining and improving upon these positive trends in property crime reduction.
